USS Harry S. Truman CVN75

Sooo Happy for you Coach Sheila!!  We all do have a wonderful special bond.  Hope we all do all meet up too!!!

Do you get your sailor a "welcome" home gift?  Ideas?  

I have a question concerning home coming... on the day the ship comes home, is this an all day event? I am trying to decide if we need to book a room for the night the ship comes home in addition to the night before. Thanks in advance!

Yaaaaaaay Battle E I'm so proud of our Sailors.  I read that facebook post about it this morning and it lit me up for days.  I'm so happy!!!!  So proud!!!!  So honored!!!!  

Thank you mirca23 for sharing your experience. I am just struggling with what to do. I am sure he is going to want to get far away from that ship... But he also bought a car while deployed and has to pick it up at a car dealer in Norfolk. Home is over 8 hours away, and he plans to drive that new car home. I am kinda leaning towards getting the room for the night the ship comes home also. That way he can be well rested before we head for Ohio.

Truman's last Deployment in 2010 was pretty much the same deal. Day before party where you are given your passes, shown video of highlights of deployment, Capt talks to you a bit, they had a heavy 'hore derve party with non alcoholic drinks, cake, ice sculptor, handed out your passes and info for party the next day. then the ship came in around 9am officially. Took 2-3 hours to un-board and off we went. Pretty much the same as what mirca said with food at base, tent with activities for kids, first kiss, new daddies etc. If your sailor is a Nuke count on them being last off the ship and about an hour longer than the rest.

My son wanted to get as far away as possible even talked us out of going on the ship for a little tour. He wanted to go home immediately and we stopped for lunch and drove straight through to OH. We got home late in wee hours of the morning. We too are from OH but where we live takes about 10-12 hours depending on how fast you drive. We did have a room for that 2nd night and cancelled it.

Good morning ladies..Do any of you have any hotels that would be close by to stay during Home Coming? I have been trying to catch up on the comments.. It's been very busy here at work.

Thank you everyone. Looks like I may need to change my plans up a little then. We were not going to leave home until my younger kids got home from school the day before the ship comes in which would put us into Norfolk around 11 pm. Does anyone know if there is a way to get your passes, etc if you don't make it to the festivities planned for homecoming eve?  

So very proud of all your sailors great work that they have done.  Congrats.. All that hard work paid off.

You may want to talk to the Ombudsmen about that and see what they suggest Zander'sMom. I still don't know what the date is for them to come in. I sent email to Ombudsmen and they never responded. Guess I will have to call and ask them directly or try to get my son to tell me in code or by snail mail.

I was told to bring STATE issued IDs for us (Driver's Licenses) adults, and children were school IDs or it younger birth certifs.  We also brought birth certificates along too just in case for the adults and kids who were school age. I don't think we even had to worry about it though other than showing our passes at gate. They had our names on a list already. I know though you should carry with you as you never know who they are going to randomly pull over and check. I really don't remember that part being a problem for us. The day before party was in mid-late afternoon I think. It was at same hotel we stayed at. They had a block of rooms for Truman at discounted rates. Was a very nice hotel across from the shipyards.

 Thank you catsmom and Sherryl . I was awakened by a 2:45am call from my son Monday morning and he gave an estimated date. I do have a question for you all and that is I sent out two care packages on the same day and has only received one so far is this normal? Its been 3 weeks today . I am so new at this I appreciate any input . Have a blessed day

stavsmom yep ts normal! I have two out there somewhere right now! UGG one was for valentines day and nothing so far!! yippee for the  morning call!!! i have been able to get lots of emails since she has been moved to the office!! I am very thankful!

all this talk about homecoming has me excited for it to happen.  

I had contacted the ombudsman via email about the newsletter and finally got my first one today.  I found them to be very helpful.  They don't answer you right away when you email them but they do answer so that was encouraging.  

I hope everyone is all dug out for all the snows we have gotten lately.  My sailor is really missing not seeing snow but I told her at the rate we are going, there will still be snow piles on the ground when she gets home.  lol

jbr00001 and others.  Here are a couple of excellent websites with information on hotels near the Naval Base in Norfolk:

http://military-hotels.us/virginia/ns-norfolk-va.html

https://www.navy-lodge.com/lodge_page.html?p_lodge_number=34

Hope this helps.

my sailor said that that last day to send packages in march 10 in order to get to them on time:)

Good Morning everybody,

Carol Ann..... Thanks for the head up on what to expect (ID's, party, passes....) if I can get there. ($$$Retired single parent hardship$$$) but, I did send a pray up:  "Lord if its meant for me to be there (I really do really want to go) at the homecoming make a way for flight & hotels expenses for me"!  Ps:  My sailor wife invited my 21 yrs. daughter to come and stay with them in the apts earlier this month. (I'm cool with that) lol

Grandma BarB..... And thanks you also, for the links on Hotels near Base.  You and Coach Sheila are so very inspiring to me and others.  (leaders)

Coach Sheila..... Congrats!!!  On all of your latest communications with your sailor, I did the Happy Dance & cried for the both of you.  So Happy for You!!!!!  And its Okay, to let it all out-- because its the "Fruits of our Hard Labors" with our childrens Glories & Success Stories!!!  My sailor has called home three times last week and one time the beginning of February (when I told him it stresses me out when I can't hear his voice, that anybody could be sending me those emails), and he has sent a couple more of emails to indicate its him!  I couldn't share at the time because I was in a Dazed-- for days with over Joy!!!!!! lol  Also, I prayed that the rest of the other ladies/dad's hear from the Sailor's real-real soon.  Peace & much Love  PS:  I forgot I have a birthday coming up on this Saturday (222)!!!

Carol Ann,,, Girl, I forgot to ask you, who has a block of discounted hotels room for the "Truman"  (is it for family & friends also) you didn't mention the hotel names.....  thanks

Carrie, I just checked online-I Googled it...It was the Renaissance in downtown Portsmouth. Their number is 1-800-230-4134, 425 Water St. It is a 4-star hotel and is on the older side but very nice! Check in is at 4pm. It has an indoor pool/sauna, whirlpool and fitness center, internet station by lobby. Attached parking garage which I know you do have to pay $10 a night to use. It is across from the Naval shipyard and they even have a small museum there which we never got to see cuz they were closed on Sunday and the ship came in Monday morning. Their # is 1-800-230-4134. Not sure (like I said) if that will be the site of the Before Party again but they did have a pretty large conference room for that. They had excellent rates but make sure if you call now that you let them know you are meeting the Truman and ask them for the special discount. Even if the Ombudsman doesn't tell you anything yet the hotel might. Good luck!

I'm getting more and more confused.  We booked a hotel, but in Norfolk, not Portsmouth.  Where does the ship come in? Guess I thought the docks were in Norfolk.  Thanks all!

Jan C: The ship comes in to port still in Norfolk. We were just talking about hotels to stay at and Carrie wanted to know where I stayed last time which was also the site of the Day Before Party. This was at the Renaissance hotel in downtown Portsmouth which is kind of across a little bay from the shipyard. This was where during last deployment in 2010 they handed out your BASE passes and give you the info you need to know for meeting the ship. This was called the Before Party. I do NOT know for sure it will be here but she wanted to know the info and I gave it to her. I still do NOT know any details. The Ombudsman is still the person to contact for this.

Hi ladies, from my understanding we will be getting information from the homecoming regarding hotels and the actual date of the ships arrival via ombudsman.  For security reasons I know we are not able to post dates just curious if any of your Sailors have contacted you with the possible date of arrival?  Not hearing from my girl much lately.    thanks so much and have a really nice Wednesday!!!

Hello Pam, Yes that is correct.You will get all that info in a pkt that they will mail to you. Hopefully they will give more notice this time. For those that need to come a distance via driving--especially those flying, you really do need to get it done before then. Last time I did not get enough notice and actually came home and found my info pkt in mailbox, so had I relied on that I would not have gotten my hotel room at the discounted rate, nor maybe even gotten there in time. I have not heard from my sailor except two very short emails since last port which he did call me from sick, and he would never discuss that with me that way, so I myself do not honestly know the date either. I am not worrying about it too much though  cuz I know I will find out in time, one way or another. last time was a very panicked call to the Ombudsman office and they were oh so helpful and hooked me up over the phone.

Thanks Carol Ann appreciate all your information.  Everyone elses too.  Of course who knows the past Homecomings could be totally different then this one.  Like we have been hearing its the Navy/Military and they make the calls for everything.

Pam: You are welcome!  And that is so true--I am stressing that fact ladies... Do not take everything I say about the last time as set in stone for this time. I was just trying to give you all a comparison to go by and hopefully to make you all feel a little less stressed about it all. I wish I had known more last time too...have a great day ladies and a great weekend as I won't be on here for a few days...

Question I don't think I have seen addressed....does the whole SFG come in at once or do they stagger the ships out? 

Coach Sheila and others.  When you send your packages out, the tracking number will only trace it to the APO/FPO city where it then belongs to the Navy.  That's why you see delivery in Fresno or other places, like Philly or Boston.  Once it arrives there, it is under the total control of the Navy and you cannot track it anymore.  It's up to the Navy to get it there...and when it does, it's all based on how the Navy gets the mail to the ship.  Could be transferred from ship to ship along the way....or all go to a base in Europe, to be divvied up among ships that would be in the area of ours, etc. 

GrandmaBarb: You are absolutely correct. That is why some pkgs get there before others. I live in OH and mins take typically 4-6 wks for him to receive. When they are in port they get there sooner. the earliest he has ever received a pkg shipped overseas in the almost 6 years my son has been in is 7 days.

As far as the whole SFG coming in at once they usually stagger as the Truman alone is quite a crowd at the pier. You are talking about approx. 5,000+ on the ship alone let alone the people who are there at the pier to greet them.

Hello ladies...Thanks for all your info..Catsmom on the hotel & Grandma BarB..... Thank you for the  links on Hotels. Coach and CarolAnn keep up those important details.

My son just wrote me and said that 2 pallets of packages that arrived today, fell into the ocean.  Fortunately, his were safe, but you might want to check with your sailor to find out if your packages were effected.

NCNavyMom,  sorry to hear that especially we sent packages out not that long go

Good morning everyone,

Carol Ann....Girl, I really appreciate you-- for going thru all of that to give me some kind of ideal what type of hotels to be looking for. :)  (coded) :) May GOD Bless U & all of your love ones!!  Much thanks!!

Catsmom.....thank you for the happy dancing wishes for me.  I've always like the parties were everyone get on the dance floor, and enjoy yourself!!  So, ladies/men-- "Turn-Up"!!!! lol  (our children said that's, it mean lets all have big fun together, life is too short)  Also, there is a song that made no.1 on the R&B in 2013,  that say "HeyHeyHey---Everybody get up"!!!  Y'all kno the song.  hahaha :)

N4M & Truman....We all are good to and for one another, each one of us have warm, touch, inspired, prayed, cried, laughed, babysit, counsel, educated, held each other hands, realize we weren't alone, share personal stories ect.... you get it!!!  We are one  "big Family" with much more in common then we want to admit too. Then some of our Sailor's may even know each other. And all of the above it's okay, GOD works in mysterious ways!!  I will sign-up over & over again with this group.  I'm soooo glad I'm on a winning team.  Ps: I'm wonder does that mean we will get "Truman, Caring 4 my "Sister's Keeper Award"?  Didn't we all Work hard?  ( I'm just messing with your ladies, I see U smiling)  hahahahaha  Have a Bless Day!   Peace & Love

Yippee! Thanks Carrie for the great day start of energy!

Coach Sheila.... And you are welcome!!!  Do you realize how many ladies out here you have strengthen & Bless on this website?  I'm one for starter.  Keep on----- letting him use you sister!!!  Enjoyed the day!!

To collettakay- ...

Hi, Me too!  I keep emailing my son to do something and he doesnt know what to do and he is REALLY busy and tired.  If you find out something, please let me know.

Bigmama(camille